Brassed Off

It’s rare that I find myself sitting through a play so lifeless that I consider leaving.

Most plays that receive weak reviews have a few stand-out mistakes which let them down: clunky acting, inappropriate costumes, a dull script, but ultimately have some redeeming features that make for an acceptable performance. The issue with this play was that there was not one particular thing wrong with it. The actors’ performances were not horrific, but either too muted or too animated, the script adaptation did not stray too much from, but sugar-coated the once bleaker original, and whilst the live brass sequences were impressive, they felt too long and disjointed from the general flow of the narrative. All these minor problems came together in a watery, beige cocktail of blandness and monotony, which I suppose reflects the monotony of the miners’ lives depicted, but in the end makes for a sleepy evening’s viewing.

The play centres around the fictional village of ‘Grimley’, a parallel to the real mining village of Grimethorpe in South Yorkshire, named the poorest village in Britain in the early nineties. It begins with a flash-forward monologue from ‘Shane’, describing his life growing up in Grimley, through the pit closures of Thatcher’s regime. He stands on an imposing shaft drill that remains on stage throughout the play, a constant reminder of the industry that is the villagers’ livelihood and struggle. The set design looked professional and realistic, but lacked imagination and seemed to slow down the quick scene changes which would have been more distinct with a change of set.

Confusingly, as the play moves back in time to Shane’s childhood, he is still played by the same actor, Luke Adamson, an eight year old boy played by a young man. If this was for effect, it did not work. There were other children in this play, albeit with no lines, but there is really no need for a professional actor to shout the occasional lines, “Dad!”, “I’m 8”, and run around pretending to be an aeroplane. The young Shane could have easily been played by a child.

The other actors gave sound performances, but nobody really stood out, apart from maybe John McArdle’s slightly over-acting band conductor. Before I looked at the programme I found myself wondering if the people on stage were professional brass players who had been asked to act occasionally, as the music was well-played and together, one of the positives of the play. The length of the pieces seemed self-indulgent, however, like they had wanted to just have a good play with their mates. Perhaps this was reflective of the characters’ own feelings?

The play should have been one that inspired sympathy in the audience as the characters struggle with the their familial and professional problems, the brass band being their one past time that brings joy in a dark time. I was not at all bothered. By the end I wanted the pit to close so the play would hurry up and end.

In this adaptation of Andrea Levy’s 2004 novel about the Windrush generation, the trials faced by native Jamaicans migra...

Support Plays To See

We need sponsors in order to expand our network of contributors and our connections with theatres and cultural organisations around the world.

We are now able to accept credit/debit card donations directly from this site, with the security of PayPal. No sum is too small.

Thank you for your support!

Donate Today!

Brassed Off

2014-02-22

1.0Reviewer's Rating

Playstosee.com is a showcase for talent, particularly young talent, allowing them a platform to share their knowledge and appreciation of drama, musicals, opera, comedy, cabaret, ballet and even the circus. Our reach is truly global so our reviewers have the pleasure of knowing that their reviews will be read by people around the world.

We need sponsors in order to expand our network of contributors and our connections with theatres and cultural organisations around the world.

No sum is too small.

To pledge a donation by cheque, select ‘Offline Donation’ below. For a donation via credit card, select the PayPal option – you do not actually need a PayPal account in order to make a credit card donation through PayPal.

Add 25% more to your donation at no cost to you. A Gift Aid declaration allows Plays To See to claim tax back on eligible donations. It means that for every £1 you donate to Plays To See we can claim back 25p, at no extra cost to you.

By ticking the "Yes" box, I agree I would like Plays To See to reclaim the tax on all qualifying donations I have made, as well as any future donations, until I notify them otherwise. I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year I may be asked to pay any difference. I understand that Plays To See will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give.

What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid does not cost you a penny more, but can add an additional 25p to every £1 you donate. When Plays To See receives a donation from a UK taxpayer, we're entitled to claim an amount of tax (calculated at the basic rate of income tax in that year) paid on that donation. Once you have given your permission for us to do this on your behalf, there is no need for you to do anything else.

All that is required is that you must be a taxpayer and that would have paid or will pay sufficient Income and/or Capital Gains Tax to cover all the Gift Aid claimed on all your donations in that tax year. Please note that it is your responsibility to pay any difference.

The amount of tax we claim will be 25% of the total value of your donations in that tax year. Furthermore, if you are a higher taxpayer, you are also entitled to claim the difference between the basic rate which we will claim and the amount of tax you have actually paid. For further details on how you can do this, please contact your tax office. If your tax situation changes and your gifts will no longer be eligible for the Gift Aid scheme please contact us and we will amend your record accordingly.

Our Mission

Plays To See explores diverse cultures through the medium of the performing arts. It aims to promote interest in the theatre and foster dialogue, understanding and appreciation for different artistic productions around the world.
Our scope is wide-ranging, from Greek tragedy to stand-up comedy; from ballet and opera to mime and experimental theatre.